How to follow-up after sending a resume

The problem
"I have sent out over 80 resumes to date and have not received one response," writes an administrative support professional in Nassau County with 30 years' experience.

Besides networking, she says, "I get up each morning, get a cup of coffee and scour the job boards," along with employer Web sites. For this 51- year-old who says she's proficient in a slew of office applications, "the current job market was a rude awakening."

She and others like her have taken Newsday up on an offer to help find answers to their most pressing job-search questions. We've assembled a panel of experts who'll be offering answers through Friday in Newsday and on newsday.com.

This administrative professional asks: "When it comes to sending resumes to posted jobs, what is the protocol for following up? There seems to be a disagreement among the various boards as to whether following up on a resume is a good idea or not." 

Advice for her from Patty O'Connell, vice president of human resources for the People's Alliance Federal Credit Union and co-chair of the Hauppauge Industrial Association's human resources committee:
"Sometimes we're even leery to post an open position, as we do get inundated with a lot of resumes with experience we're not even looking for.

"I hear my assistant saying over and over, 'Yes, we did receive your resume.'

In the past, the follow-up call was the thing to do, but now it's driving the human resources person crazy.

"With that said, if they do call, it's far better to use that opportunity to acknowledge how inundated the office must be, and point out right away that you do meet all the qualifications and here's why 'you should give me a look.'

Some job hunters get a little creative to stand out. I know of a young girl who sent a resume . . . and a few days later sent a fruit arrangement, saying she would appreciate feedback on the resume. She did get a phone call."

 Advice for her from Allison Hemming, founder and president of The Hired Guns talent agency, Manhattan, who suggests how to stand out so a call is more likely to be taken:
"You see a job posted on a board. Before you respond, figure out if you know someone at that company. If you do, forward them the job description ASAP and ask if they can back-channel you in.

Many companies offer referral bounties (aka bonuses) to employees. . . . You want to go this way first because your friend might not get compensated if you go through the online application tracking system.

Next, head directly to LinkedIn. And see if any of your LinkedIn pals are connected to the company. Many times we're two or three degrees of separation from a contact in LinkedIn."